Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party assists two or more people in reaching a voluntary settlement of their differences. The purpose of mediation is not to establish fault in past events, but to look to the future by giving people an opportunity to clear up misunderstandings, find areas of agreement, and come up with solutions of their own design. Mediated agreements have a high rate of voluntary compliance because decisions are not imposed by an outside authority. Participants need agree to do only what they are willing to do. In many cases, the mediation process positively transforms participants' future relationships with one another.
|
